Looted Statue of Goddess Demeter Recovered by Turkish Police

From greekreporter.com

Greek Goddess Statue Found At Illegal Excavation in Turkey
by Iro-Anna Mamakouka - Apr 17, 2014

A statue, believed to be the ancient Greek goddess Demeter, has been unearthed at an illegal excavation in Simav, western Turkey. The statue, weighing in at 610kg and standing 2.8 meters tall, was discovered by two Turks, Ramazan C. And Ismail G, 26 and 62 years old respectively, who are alleged to have been conducting illegal excavations in the wider area where the statue was found. The two men were taken into custody by the Turkish police and sent to court.

The head of the statue and the altar, missing during the raid, were later found in a house in the city centre.

In Greek mythology, Demeter, one of Zeus’ sisters, so the story goes, was the goddess of agriculture, nature, abundance and seasons, and mother of Persephone, wife of Hades.

Hales Corners Chess Challenge XIX

Thank you to Tom Fogec, who sent me the following, highlighting all of the chess femmes and how they did!  This year there was a new playing venue, the Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, April 12, 2014.  Four rounds in one day.  Too stressful for me, alas.

Chess Femmes in RED

Hales Corners Challenge XIX - OpenCross Table, Page 1

No. Name St Rate Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Score

1. Santarius, Erik (1)........... WI 2429 D15 W10 W28 W12 3.5
2. Velikanov, Alexander (2)...... WI 2343 W22 W40 D14 W13 3.5
3. Betaneli, Alex (3)............ WI 2316 W8 W7 D6 W14 3.5
4. Brown, Christopher (33)....... WI 1758 W46 W52 D5 W21 3.5
5. Smail, Benedict A (5)......... WI 2220 W16 W21 D4 D6 3.0
6. Becker, Allen J (9)........... WI 2119 W24 W23 D3 D5 3.0
7. Ulrich, Rachel J (13)......... WI 2070 W27 L3 W26 W23 3.0
8. Aranovich, Gary (17).......... WI 1971 L3 W41 W30 -X- 3.0
9. Shi, Tinglin (18)............. WI 1944 W11 L12 W41 W28 3.0
10. Joachim, Peter Jam (28)....... WI 1802 W36 L1 W40 W22 3.0
11. Cooper, Jeff (4).............. WI 2238 L9 D19 W36 W31 2.5
12. Parker, Anthony L (7)......... WI 2190 -H- W9 W34 L1 2.5
13. Harder, Brady R (8)........... WI 2120 D25 W35 W33 L2 2.5
14. Martin III, Richard (10)...... WI 2096 W17 W18 D2 L3 2.5
15. McNeil, David (15)............ MN 2028 D1 L28 W45 W34 2.5
16. Krause, Aaron P (19).......... WI 1943 L5 W42 W44 D19 2.5
17. Parmet, Daniel Edw (23)....... WI 1903 L14 D27 W47 W37 2.5
18. Desmoulin, Stephan (24)....... WI 1895 W52 L14 D37 W33 2.5
19. Wainscott, Chris (29)......... WI 1801 W43 D11 D31 D16 2.5
20. Williams, William (6)......... WI 2205 L23 D33 W48 D27 2.0
21. Mhaskar, Rohan (14)........... WI 2041 W32 L5 W29 L4 2.0
22. Cardenas, David R (16)........ WI 2002 L2 W30 W35 L10 2.0
23. Khadem, Masoud (20)........... IL 1938 W20 L6 W42 L7 2.0
24. Fricano, Paul (21)............ WI 1915 L6 W48 W43 -F- 2.0
25. Geder, John (22).............. WI 1912 D13 L26 D46 W39 2.0
26. Tan, Jonathan (25)............ IL 1871 L40 W25 L7 W44 2.0
27. Coons, James Jay (26)......... WI 1858 L7 D17 W51 D20 2.0
28. Chua, Zachary Z (34)......... WI 1755 W47 W15 L1 L9 2.0
29. Zhang, Edward (35)............ IL 1737 L48 W39 L21 W43 2.0
30. Bevans, Paul (36)............. WI 1729 W38 L22 L8 W46 2.0
31. Sagunsky, David L (37)........ WI 1725 D51 W45 D19 L11 2.0
32. Christensen, Wade (27)........ WI 1852 L21 D47 L39 W48 1.5
33. Grochowski, Andrew (30)....... WI 1790 W44 D20 L13 L18 1.5
34. Pokorski, Jeffrey (31)........ WI 1785 D45 W51 L12 L15 1.5
35. Franek, Martin Joh (32)....... IL 1759 W37 L13 L22 D38 1.5
36. Moore, Micheal A (40)......... WI 1705 L10 D46 L11 W51 1.5
37. MacLeish, Brian (44).......... WI 1655 L35 W53 D18 L17 1.5
38. Mohammed, Sarfaraz (49)....... WI 1538 L30 L43 W50 D35 1.5
39. Shefsky, Michael W (52)....... WI 1493 -H- L29 W32 L25 1.5
40. Rajendra, Avinash (12)........ WI 2070 W26 L2 L10 -F- 1.0
41. Wang, Ricky (39).............. IL 1711 W50 L8 L9 -F- 1.0
42. Dreuth, Adam W (38)........... WI 1711 W53 L16 L23 -U- 1.0
43. Hegelmeyer, John (41)......... WI 1684 L19 W38 L24 L29 1.0
44. Jensen, Alex D (42)........... WI 1676 L33 W50 L16 L26 1.0
45. Ulrich, Anne E (43)........... WI 1668 D34 L31 L15 D47 1.0
46. Huang, Alena (45)............. WI 1620 L4 D36 D25 L30 1.0
47. Lynk Sr, Rodney B (46)........ WI 1600 L28 D32 L17 D45 1.0
48. Bakalinsky, Jacob (47)........ WI 1584 W29 L24 L20 L32 1.0
49. Corcoran, Benjamin (48)....... WI 1562 -N- -N- W53 -U- 1.0
50. Murtaugh, William (51)........ WI 1510 L41 L44 L38 W53 1.0
51. Hegelmeyer, John W (50)....... WI 1526 D31 L34 L27 L36 0.5
52. McKinney, Christop (11)....... WI 2090 L18 L4 -U- -U- 0.0
53. Rasmussen, Kenneth (53)....... WI 1392 L42 L37 L49 L50 0.0

Hales Corners Challenge XIX - Reserve Cross Table

No. Name St Rate 1 2 3 4 Score
1. Najeeb, Hadi (4).............. WI 1492 W37 W8 W14 W7 4.0
2. Kulkarni, Pranav (2).......... WI 1552 W33 D6 W26 W15 3.5
3. Carerros, Charles (1)......... WI 1599 W19 L7 W36 W21 3.0
4. Monosov, Natanel A (6)........ WI 1478 W22 W21 D15 D6 3.0
5. Ulrich, Susanna G (7)......... WI 1461 L14 W38 W41 W24 3.0
6. Seghers, Reid Nath (9)........ WI 1426 W23 D2 W35 D4 3.0
7. Lawrence, Michael (10)........ WI 1402 W10 W3 W13 L1 3.0
8. Xu, Arthur Zihan (11)......... IL 1366 W24 L1 W40 W28 3.0
9. Wright, Gary M (12)........... WI 1328 W25 L13 W45 W26 3.0
10. Huiras, Nathan (23)........... WI 1199 L7 W32 W30 W18 3.0
11. Jace, Adam A (35)............. WI 917 L32 W31 W23 W20 3.0
12. Khassenov, Magzhan (40)....... WI 656 L38 W49 W34 W33 3.0
13. Johnson, Jay Richa (3)........ MN 1525 W20 W9 L7 D14 2.5
14. Molkentin, TJ (19)............ WI 1246 W5 W18 L1 D13 2.5
15. Gaddipati, Harsha (26)........ WI 1110 W30 W17 D4 L2 2.5
16. Gopal, Aditya (27)............ WI 1046 L43 W44 D33 W35 2.5
17. Karimikonda, Teja (5)......... WI 1487 L21 L15 W48 W36 2.0
18. Huang, Sabrina (8)............ WI 1435 W34 L14 W38 L10 2.0
19. Holmes, Russ (13)............. WI 1316 L3 L26 W49 W41 2.0
20. Michaels, James (15).......... WI 1300 L13 W41 W29 L11 2.0
21. Shi, Stephen (17)............. WI 1272 W17 L4 W27 L3 2.0
22. Schatz, Noah F (18)........... WI 1259 L4 W28 W42 -N- 2.0
23. DeLair, Ethan (21)............ WI 1221 L6 W29 L11 W45 2.0
24. Gomoll, Rachel (24)........... WI 1196 L8 W45 W43 L5 2.0
25. Yang, Steven Xob (25)......... WI 1157 L9 W46 L32 W42 2.0
26. White, Gavin Otto (31)........ WI 997 W46 W19 L2 L9 2.0
27. Gomoll, Jacob (32)............ WI 989 W48 L37 L21 W43 2.0
28. Stewart, Zachary W (34)....... WI 977 W47 L22 W37 L8 2.0
29. Iyer, Pranav (37)............. WI 850 W49 L23 L20 W40 2.0
30. Hogg, Neil (38)............... WI 830 L15 W47 L10 W38 2.0
31. Gaddipati, Haasa (44)......... WI 595 L41 L11 W44 W47 2.0
32. Klapper, Bret Alle (47)....... WI nnnn W11 L10 W25 -U- 2.0
33. Hogg, Alexander (14).......... WI 1307 L2 W40 D16 L12 1.5
34. Srivastava, Vivek (20)........ WI 1238 L18 D36 L12 W49 1.5
35. Neumann, Curt E (22).......... WI 1212 -H- W43 L6 L16 1.5
36. Bundy, David (45)............. WI 369 -B- D34 L3 L17 1.5
37. Seeber, Kody (16)............. WI 1277 L1 W27 L28 -U- 1.0
38. Jain, Kyle Deepak (28)........ WI 1016 W12 L5 L18 L30 1.0
39. Seghers, Mark Staf (29)....... WI 1007 -U- -U- -U- W48 1.0
40. Wanek, Ellen Ann (30)......... WI 1004 W44 L33 L8 L29 1.0
41. Anand, Devesh Kuma (33)....... WI 982 W31 L20 L5 L19 1.0
42. Hegelmeyer, Jason (36)........ WI 905 L45 W48 L22 L25 1.0
43. Rockley, James D (39)......... WI 813 W16 L35 L24 L27 1.0
44. Nielsen, Craig (41)........... WI 634 L40 L16 L31 W46 1.0
45. Ball, Salli (46).............. WI nnnn W42 L24 L9 L23 1.0
46. Przedwiecki, Alyssa (43)...... WI 608 L26 L25 D47 L44 0.5
47. Prasad, Anoushka (49)......... WI nnnn L28 L30 D46 L31 0.5
48. Anand, Divyesh Kum (42)....... WI 608 L27 L42 L17 L39 0.0
49. Nielsen, Tina (48)............ WI nnnn L29 L12 L19 L34 0.0

Prizes won by the female players:

OPEN SECTION:

Rachel Ulrich won $120

Anne Ulrich won $40

Alena Huang won $40

Rachel Ulrich also won the gift bag and free entry to HCC XX ($40)

RESERVE SECTION:

Susanna Ulrich won $60

Teja Karimikonda won $40

Sabrina Huang won $40

Rachel Gomoll won $40

Haasa Gaddipati won $40

Ellen Wanek won $20

Salli Ball won $20

Alyssa Przedwiecki won $10

Anoushka Prasad won $10

Susanna Ulrich also won the gift bag and free entry to HCC XXI ($30)

 

Congratulations to all of the chess femmes who participated.  I hope you'll all come back for Challenge XX!

FIDE Women's Grand Prix Khanty-Mansiysk 2014

Hola darlings!

I am in the middle of selling my house and shopping for a new place and it's been crazy crazy crazy around here.  All of this has happened within the past 3 weeks or so, out of the blue.  I didn't have my house up for sale, I received a private offer!  Now I'm simultaneously trying to get everything marshalled together for a private sale (no broker and closing department involved) and look for a new home for myself.  I haven't had much energy to do posting!

But - the Women's Grand Prix is back.  This spin around, the tournament takes place in Kamsky-Mansky in Siberia. Is the frozen tundra starting to thaw there, by any chance?  It ain't happening much around my neck of the woods in Wisconsin, geez!  April 9 - 21, 2014.  Here are the results from R7 held today and the current standings:

Round 7 on 2014/04/16 at 15:00
SNo.		Name	Rtg	Res.		Name	Rtg	SNo.
4	WGM	Girya Olga	2450	1 – 0	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2527	12
5	GM	Muzychuk Anna	2560	1 – 0	GM	Zhao Xue	2552	3
6	GM	Hou Yifan	2618	1 – 0	GM	Ushenina Anna	2501	2
7	GM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2496	½ - ½	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2489	1
8	WGM	Batchimeg Tuvshintugs	2340	0 – 1	WGM	Muminova Nafisa	2321	11
9	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2550	½ - ½	GM	Lagno Kateryna	2543	10

Rank	SNo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts	Res.
1	6	GM	Hou Yifan	2618	CHN	6	0
2	5	GM	Muzychuk Anna	2560	SLO	5	0
3	4	WGM	Girya Olga	2450	RUS	4½	0
4	1	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2489	BUL	3½	½
5	12	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2527	RUS	3½	½
6	10	GM	Lagno Kateryna	2543	UKR	3½	-1
7	11	WGM	Muminova Nafisa	2321	UZB	3½	-1
8	2	GM	Ushenina Anna	2501	UKR	3	½
9	3	GM	Zhao Xue	2552	CHN	3	½
10	9	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2550	GEO	3	-1
11	7	GM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2496	RUS	2½	0
12	8	WGM	Batchimeg Tuvshintugs	2340	MGL	1	0

Pairings for Round 8:

Round 8 on 2014/04/17 at 15:00
SNo.		Name	Rtg	Res.		Name	Rtg	SNo.
12	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	2527	-	GM	Lagno Kateryna	2543	10
11	WGM	Muminova Nafisa	2321	-	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	2550	9
1	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2489	-	WGM	Batchimeg Tuvshintugs	2340	8
2	GM	Ushenina Anna	2501	-	GM	Kosintseva Tatiana	2496	7
3	GM	Zhao Xue	2552	-	GM	Hou Yifan	2618	6
4	WGM	Girya Olga	2450	-	GM	Muzychuk Anna	2560	5

Hales Corners Chess Challenge XIX - April 12, 2014!

Hola darlings!

I won't be there in person tomorrow, but I will be there in spirit, and in Goddesschess Prize Money, woo woo!  The latest email I received, there are 89 pre-registered players, 11 of which are you, my dear chess femmes. 

Can we break a record?  Let's go for it, ladies.  Top $800 in Goddesschess prize money winnings (paid out in Challenge XVIII) and we set a new record.  I know you can do it...

You know, sitting here tonight, surrounded by incipient chaos of house sale and trying to find a new place for myself to live, I can't help but think of all those countless dreams I've had over the years, but none more than now, recently (does it mean something?), that I somehow, miraculously, was born again as a chess prodigy who became the first female World Chess Champion and also the Queen of England more or less at the same time. Well, what can I say? The Prince of Wales ("Wills", that is) IS a hunk of a man.  I would definitely take that job on...

Of course, as dreams do, "I" jump from time to time, era to era, but chess is always there, and so is that Prince.  Hmmmm.... Maybe in my next life.  So, if you someday see a very imperial Queenish-figure holding a Staunton style Queen between her thumb and forefinger in an official portrait, with a half-cocked smile and dimples showing, that will be me, darlings.  Swear it!

But, for now, I have to be content with "Dream On" by Aerosmith. I think these lyrics are the best chess-related I've ever heard, whether Steven Tyler has ever played chess or not.  Just read them, and think about it:

"Dream On"

Every time that I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer [Will we make NM before 21, or 71...]
The past is gone [We supposedly forget about our prior losses --- but we NEVAH do...]
It went by like dusk to dawn [Hell, yeah]
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay [Yes, all chessplayers pay their dues...]

Yeah, I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win  [So true. Until you lose, how do you know how to win?]

Half my life's in books' written pages [Chess master books...]
Live and learn from fools and from sages [Yeah.  Some of them are crap, some of them are gems.]
You know it's true
All the things you do, come back to you [Oh yeah.  It's called ELO, baby!]

Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

Sing with me, sing it for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

Dream on, dream on, dream on, [I will always dream of myself as World Chess Champion...
Dream until your dream come true [and Queen of England, too...]
Dream on, dream on, dream on,
And dream until your dream come true
Dream on [7x]

Sing with me, sing it for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing it for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

Sing with me, sing it for the year
Sing for the laughter and sing it for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away

Want to see a video of Aerosmith in their prime singing "Dream On":

Hales Corners Chess Challenge XIX!

Update:  As of last night, there are 79 pre-registered players, of which 11 are chess femmes:  3 in the Open and 8 in the Reserve. Woo woo! 

And as of earlier today, there are now 82 pre-registered players, 38 in the Open, and 44 in the Reserve!  Chess femmes in the Open are:  Rachel Ulrich (2070); Anne Ulrich (1668); and Alena Huang (1620).  In the Reserve:  Teja Karimikonda (1487); Susanna Ulrich (1461); Sabrina Huang (1435); Rachel Gomoll (1196); Ellen Wanek (1004) (she is my chess buddy and my chess nemesis at chess.com); Alyssa Przedwiecki (608); Anoushka Prasad (no rating).  I know I'm missing, I'm just too tired to go through the list again, sorry!

I do have gift bags, I just haven't had the time lately to put them together (and I don't have the actual bags, ahem.  I forgot, once again, to pick them up today.) I have forgotten (gasp!) to get them together in the midst of getting the sale of this house ready and trying to find a new place of my own to buy, and inspections, and all other kinds of stuff that is just boring but frustrating and exhausting. I'm pretty close to just calling a halt to the entire process and calling the deal OFF! THAT is how bad it has gotten the past few weeks. My health (not always so good) is suffering, as is my peace of mind (most important of all). Arrrrgggghhhh!

So, alas, I won't be attending Challenge XIX, but I will be there in spirit. And I've GOT to get those gift bags for the chess femmes who win out in each section ready! I'll be following the action, and reporting as I can.

Biblical Archaeology: Update on the "Jesus' Wife" Papyrus

Hola darlings!

I've been up to my ears dealing with an unexpected offer to buy my house, looking for a new house, contracts, work being done, blah blah blah, driving me absolutely insane and sucking all of my time and energy.  Selling a house and buying a different house - VAMPIRES!

I checked and yes, I did have a prior post on this interesting subject:

September 19, 2012:  Did Jesus Have a Wife?

Interestingly, in that article, Jesus' alleged wife was referred to by a name - Mary.  The article identified her as Mary Magdalene.  Please keep that in mind as you read this current news, as this identification is not mentioned in the current article.  Could I see a complete, full translation of this papyrus, please???

Article from CNN.com:

April 10th, 2014

10:04 AM ET

Study: 'Jesus' wife' fragment not a fake

By Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor

 

CNN) - A team of scientists has concluded that a controversial scrap of papyrus that purportedly quotes Jesus referring to "my wife," is not a fake, according to theHarvard Theological Review.

"A wide range of scientific testing indicates that a papyrus fragment containing the words, 'Jesus said to them, my wife' is an ancient document, dating between the sixth to ninth centuries CE," Harvard Divinity School said in a statement.

The contents of the papyrus scrap may date even earlier - to the second through fourth centuries, Harvard added.

Scientists tested the papyrus and the carbon ink, and analyzed the handwriting and grammar, according to Harvard.

"None of the testing has produced any evidence that the fragment is a modern fabrication or forgery," the divinity school added.

Unveiled by Karen King, a Harvard Divinity School historian, in 2012, the scrap sparked a heated debate over Christian history, archaeological accuracy and modern media coverage of contested ancient history.

The fragment, which is about the size of a business card, contains just 33 words: “Jesus said to them, ‘My wife …. She will also be my disciple."

The scrap does not prove that Jesus actually had a wife, said King - just that ancient Christians wrote about the possibility.

Other Christians have suggested that Jesus may have been speaking metaphorically in the sentence fragments quoted in the papyrus. Some New Testament writers refer to the church as "the bride of Christ."

King and other scholars said they are equally intrigued by Jesus' mention of a female disciple.
"The main topic of the fragment is to affirm that women who are mothers and wives can be disciples of Jesus — a topic that was hotly debated in early Christianity as celibate virginity increasingly became highly valued," King said in a statement.

5 questions and answers about Jesus' 'wife'

The Harvard Theological Review also published a rebuttal by Leo Depuydt professor of Egyptology at Brown University.

“As a forgery, it is bad to the point of being farcical or fobbish," Depuydt told the Boston Globe. "I don’t buy the argument that this is sophisticated. I think it could be done in an afternoon by an undergraduate student.”

The Vatican's newspaper has also called the papyrus fragment a fake.

“Substantial reasons would lead us to conclude that the papyrus is actually a clumsy counterfeit,” the Vatican’s newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said in an editorial in 2012.

Vatican newspaper calls fragment referring to Jesus' wife 'a fake'

Hales Corners Chess Challenge XIX!!!!!

Hola darlings!

Goddesschess is funding prizes for the chess femmes who participate in the Hales Corners Chess Challenge XIX on April 12, 2014, woo woo!  The same as we've done for several previous challenges: in the Open, $40 for a win, $20 for a draw; in the Reserve, $20 for a win, $10 for a draw.  Entry fees to Challenge XX will also be paid for the top finishing female player in the Open and Reserve Sections, if she chooses to register.

Goddesschess is also once again providing special gift bags to the top female finisher in each of the Open and Reserve Sections.  I have so much fun shopping for chessly items.  Be it noted that my definition of "chessly items" has somewhat expanded over the past several Challenges, as such unique items are rather difficult to find...

Challenge XIX is being held at the gorgeous Olympia Resort, a totally new venue:

Olympia Resort Hotel, 1350 Royale Mile Rd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066; 1-800-558-9573 (mention Southwest Chess Club for $99 room rate).

Life Master Sheldon Gelbart will also be providing post-game analysis to anyone who inquires.  I've quite got over my fear of him, LOL!  His insight is incredible, and his enthusiasm for our wonderful game - I would put him up against anyone!  I have kibbutzed during many analyses he has provided to players at all levels during various Challenges, and have always walked away feeling so enlightened based on what he said.  If only I could remember it all...alas.

FORMAT: Four Round Swiss System - Four Games in One Day - USCF Rated

TIME CONTROL: Game in 60 Minutes; 6 second delay

ENTRY FEE: $40 - Open; $30 - Reserve
(both sections $5 more after April 9, 2014)

Comp Entry Fee for USCF 2200+: Entry fee subtracted from any prizes won

SITE REGISTRATION: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

ROUNDS: 10 am -- 1 pm -- 3:30 pm -- 6 pm

Pairings by WinTD---No Computer Entries---No Smoking    

You can print out a registration form and mail it in with your check, or register in person on April 12, 2014 between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.  See also Southwest Chess Club's blog information on Challenge XIX. 

I will be following reports of the action closely at the Southwest Chess Club's blog, where results and photos will be posted.  In Challenge XVIII, Goddesschess paid out a record amount of prize money to the Chess Femmes.  Can we do it again???

What Would You Do -- Return Treasures to Crimean Museums Loaned Out Before Russian Take-Over?

I know what I would do.  What would you do?

April 4, 2014

Dutch doubt where to return Crimean gold

Should Dutch museum holding Crimean gold and treasures give them back to Ukraine or Russia?

By Toby Sterling, Associated Press8 hours ago

 

A spiraling torque from the second century A.D., is displayed as part of the exhibit called
The Crimea - Gold and Secrets of the Black Sea

AMSTERDAM (AP) -- A Dutch historical museum got more than the bronze swords, golden helmets and precious gems it bargained for when it organized an exhibition on ancient treasures from Ukraine: it also inherited a diplomatic mess.

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula a month after the Allard Pierson museum opened the "Crimea — Gold and secrets of the Black Sea" exhibition in February. Curators say now they are not sure where to return the objects on display when it ends in August.

Officials from both Ukraine and Russia insist the Crimean treasures must be returned to them.

"We're investigating who the legal owner is," said museum spokeswoman Amber van Schagen-Fayein Friday.

The museum has enlisted experts from the University of Amsterdam and the Dutch Foreign Ministry for advice on what to do now.

Among the most stunning objects in the exhibition are a solid gold Scythian helmet from the 4th century B.C. and a golden neck ornament from the second century A.D. that weigh more than a kilogram (two pounds) each.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry asked the Dutch ambassador in Kiev last week to guarantee the safe return of the collection to Ukraine.

The country's culture minister Evhen Nishchuk said it was his office that approved the exhibition in the first place — in one of the largest releases of the country's historical collections abroad ever authorized — and it must return via the same route.

"This is about the national security of the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian state," Nishchuk said in a statement.

But four of the five museums that contributed artifacts are located in Crimea.

Somewhat poignantly, a major theme of the exhibition is the region's history of frequent conquests and as a crossroads for different peoples and cultures: modern Sevastapol was once the site of a Greek colony that traded grain for pottery from the Athenian Empire.

In the grave of a noblewoman who lived on Crimea's west coast in the first century A.D., archaeologists recovered an Egyptian scarab, Roman pots from Italy and France, and a Han dynasty lacquer box thought to have come from China via the Silk Road.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's culture envoy Mikhail Shvydkoi said the treasures must be returned to Crimea — but he acknowledged the situation is awkward.

"Since Crimea became part of another country, we have got a legal issue here but we're going to find a solution for it," Shvydkoi said.

The exhibition was put together by one of the most prominent archaeologists of the region, Valentina Mordvintseva. In the exhibition documents, she is listed as based at the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences in Simferopol, Crimea.

_____

Associated Press reporter Nataliya Vasilyeva contributed to this story from Moscow.

2014 Grand Pacific Open

Hola everyone!  This year's Grand Pacific Open takes place April 18 - 21, 2014 in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

As you know, Goddesschess is funding prizes for the chess femmes again this year and providing a little extra to help defer some costs. 

Website.

It's just a few weeks away now, woo woo!  Someday perhaps I will be able to travel to British Columbia, I really would like to see that part of the world. 

So far there are 89 pre-registered players in the Premier and U1800 Sections, plus another 15 players in the YCC.  The highest rated female players are WGM Katerine Rohonyan, who lives in Seattle, Washington (USA) FIDE 2299, CFC 2351 and Alice Xiao, FIDE 1874, CFC 2007, living in Vancouver.  I did not see WFM Chouchanik Airapetian's name on the list, so she must have withdrawn.  Darn.  No re-match of the two top female players from last year's event after all.

But this also opens up the possibility for other chess femmes to win Goddesschess prizes!

Stay tuned.  As we are still quite a way out from final registration I won't have a full list of female competitors for awhile yet. Last year, Rohonyan finished in 4th place in the Open with 4.5/6, just out of tournament prize money (but she won top Goddesschess prize). 

There is a Facebook page. 

Rah rah rah, chess femmes!  I'm looking forward to following the action :)

Field of Menhirs at Mizos

Wow - I don't know why I didn't ever read before about menhirs in India!  I had no idea there were any there.  I've always thought of menhirs as Celtic -- in France, England, Wales and Scotland.  Guess now they're Indo-European...

Article at The Indian Express

Field of menhirs promises to shed new light on history of Mizos

Written by Adam Halliday | Aizawl | March 26, 2014 10:30 pm

 

Mizoram has made an entry into India’s archaeological map. In a first, the Ministry of Culture has declared a 9,000 sq m area dotted with several caves, and more than a hundred menhirs embossed with figures of humans, animals and weapons as an ancient site of national importance.

 

 

 

Some 170 menhirs, each at least as tall as a man, stand at the site at Champhai district’s Vangchhia village, which lies on the bank of the Tiau river that separates India and Myanmar.

 

Villagers call the site “Kawtchhuah Ropui” (The Great Gateway) and have protected these monuments for years in spite of not being sure what they represent or how they came to be there.

The Mizoram chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) along with the state’s Art & Culture Separtment has been studying the menhirs, seeking help from the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) in interpreting the embossing.

 

There has been no significant breakthrough yet, either in reading the carvings or in understanding why the menhirs are there.

 

The ministry’s notification declares the menhirs, as well as the ground on which they stand, the surrounding caves and forest as protected.

 

INTACH is hopeful that studies on the menhirs and the figures on them will shed more light on the history of the Mizos, much of which was never documented. The community followed an unwritten, oral tradition until a script was developed a little over a century ago.

 

Menhirs with similar images have also been found in parts of eastern Mizoram including at Chawngtlai village near Khawzawl town and, according to Mizo historian B Lalthangliana, in the Chin Hills of Myanmar.

 

**********************************************************

Where the heck is Mizoram?  A quick Google search -- I had no idea that India had those northeastern provinces.  It's like that area was tacked on to the country as an afterthought. 

 

 

 

Richard III - Or Not?

Um, I thought they had done DNA testing???

Article at The Mail Online

Skeleton discovered under car park may NOT be Richard III: Experts cast doubt over accuracy of DNA and dating results

• The findings have been challenged by history and archaeology experts
• They said remains could belong to any victim of War of the Roses battles
• Equally, the DNA match could be from any descendant of the king’s mother
• Researchers are calling for a coroner’s court to consider all the evidence
• Meanwhile, Leicester University said its findings all point to the same result and challenges these new claims
• Remains were uncovered by in a car park in Leicester in September 2012

ByVictoria Woollaston

PUBLISHED: 07:30 EST, 27 March 2014 | UPDATED: 08:59 EST, 27 March 2014 

 

It's been more than a year since experts announced the remains found in a car park in Leicester were those of King Richard III - but now experts have raised serious concerns about the findings.
Michael Hicks, from Winchester University, and archaeologist Martin Biddle, from the Winchester Research Unit, are challenging the results of the DNA testing, and the accuracy of the radiocarbon dating.
They are even calling for a coroner's court to be set up to independently review all of the evidence. [Who are they and what is their stake in this?]

The University of Leicester concluded the remains belonged to the king during a press conference in February last year, after the body was excavated in September 2012. They claimed DNA samples matched that of a descendant of the king's maternal line, while the skeleton's spinal curvature also matched accounts of the humpback royal.

The team used radiocarbon dating to determine when the skeleton died, and said this confirmed it was around the same time the king was killed during the Battle of Boswroth in 1485.
Speaking to BBC History Magazine, Professor Hicks argued the remains could belong to a victim of any of the battles fought during the Wars of the Roses: 'Lots of other people who suffered similar wounds could have been buried in the choir of the church where the bones were found,' he explained.
He also queried the project's use of radiocarbon dating, which dates the bones to the period of Richard’s death: 'Such a technique is imprecise. It will give you an era, but nothing more. In this case, it covers a period of 80 years.'

Professor Hicks went on to question the prominence given to DNA testing in claims about the identity of the remains, too, adding: 'The DNA match could equally be the result of the bones being those of someone descended in the female line from Richard’s mother, Cecily Neville.' [Like - who, for instance?]

King Richard’s grandmother, Joan Beaufort, for example, had 16 children, 'which made her the ancestor of much of the nobility of the Wars of the Roses - quite a few of whom died violently in those conflicts,' continued Professor Hicks. [Give us alternative names then, please.  And were any of them hunchbacks?]

'Indeed, it is very hard to prove that the skeleton belongs to a specific person. The Leicester team themselves acknowledge that it’s extremely rare for archaeologists to find a known individual, let alone a king.'

The University of Leicester concluded the remains belonged to the king during a press conference in February last year after the body was excavated in September 2012.
The skeleton was described of that of a slender male, in his late 20s or early 30s. Richard was 32 when he died. Pictures also revealed a distinctive curvature of the spine synonymous with the hunchback king. There was, however, no evidence of a withered arm, which was also part of the Richard myth.

While DNA samples matched that of a descendant of the king's maternal line.
The team used radiocarbon dating to determine when the skeleton died and said this confirmed it was around the same time the king was killed during the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.
Trauma to the skeleton showed the king died after one of two significant wounds to the back of the skull - possibly caused by a sword and a halberd.  Experts said this was consistent with contemporary accounts of the monarch being killed after receiving a blow to the head.

The skeleton also showed a number of non-fatal injuries to the head and rib and to the pelvis, which is believed to have been caused by a wound through the right buttock.

The remains were uncovered by archaeologists at former church in Leicester, which is now a social services car park.

Professor Hicks argued the remains could belong to a victim of any of the battles fought during the Wars of the Roses, as 'lots of other people who suffered similar wounds could have been buried in the choir of the church.'  He also queried the project's use of radiocarbon dating, because it covers a wide period of 80 years.
Professor Hicks added the DNA match could equally match anyone descended in the female line from Richard’s mother, Cecily Neville. King Richard’s grandmother, Joan Beaufort, for example, had 16 children.

Professor Biddle continued historians know very little about the graves in the east end of the church and is calling for a coroner's court, or similar, to review the evidence.
Professor Biddle echoed these concerns: 'We know very little about the graves in the east end of the church.
'How many burials were made there in the three centuries of the friary’s existence, and indeed after the battle of Bosworth? Without further excavation there is no certainty. Before all this goes any further, it would be wise to be certain the body really is his. 'Something akin to a coroner’s court should be set up to consider all the evidence.'

In response to the claims Philippa Langley, who commissioned and paid for the excavation, said: 'To say it cannot be claimed ‘with any confidence’ that this is Richard is quite puzzling.
'Given the totality of the evidence, it can surely be said with considerable confidence. Hicks says that there may have been ‘lots of people with similar wounds’: perhaps he could name one who fits the bill?'

Richard, depicted by William Shakespeare as a monstrous tyrant who murdered two princes in the Tower of London, died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, defeated by an army led by Henry Tudor.
According to historical records, his body was taken 15 miles to Leicester where it was displayed as proof of his death, before being buried in the Franciscan friary.
The team from Leicester University set out to trace the site of the old church and its precincts in 2012, including the site where Richard was finally laid to rest.
They began excavating the city centre location in August and soon discovered the skeleton, which was found in good condition with its feet missing in a grave around 27 inches (68cm) below ground level.
It was lying in a rough cut grave with the hands crossed in a manner which indicated they were bound when he was buried. To the naked eye, it was clear the remains had a badly curved spine and trauma injuries to the rear of the head. But archaeologists were keen to make no official announcement until the skeleton had been subjected to months of tests.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the University of Leicester added: 'The strength of the identification is that different kinds of evidence all point to the same result. Hicks is entitled to his views, but we would challenge and counter them.

Professor Hicks concluded: 'I’m not saying that it’s not Richard - it’s perfectly conceivable that it is - but we are not in a position to say with any confidence that it’s him.  Similarly, while the curved spine suggests the skeleton is Richard’s, the presence of scoliosis does not represent conclusive proof.'

Spain Re-Examining Phoenician Settlement

Article at Past Horizons

Phoenician colony in southeast Spain re-examined

Article created on Sunday, March 30, 2014

Researchers in Spain have applied new remote sensing and aerial imaging to the Phoenician colony of Cabezo Pequeño del Estany of Guardamar under the project “Cultural Transfers in the Ancient Mediterranean” to begin a new round of archaeological works on the site.

The settlement was first discovered by chance in the late 1980s when it was partially destroyed by an illegal cement quarry and subsequently excavated in several seasons of rescue archaeology under the direction of Antonio García Menárguez, director of the Archaeological Museum of Guardamar.

The current joint work between the University and the Museum has raised interest in this spectacular site after recent consolidation work was photographed from the air showing the preserved sections of an impressive 2 metre high defensive wall, with projecting bastion and towers.

This wall, built between 900 and 850BCE contains eastern Mediterranean compartmented rooms within the main excavated structure, following a typical Phoenician pattern of internal architecture. The organisation and the size of the colony itself is one that is replicated in other such pioneer settlements, and the type of defence found here has close parallels in the Near East with sites such as Hazor or Qeiyafa in Israel, as can be clearly seen in the aerial images.

Seeking metal
The fortified site, was one of several that dotted the coastline of Spain, as traders sought the precious tin and other metals that could be obtained at the end of the known world. The peaceful abandonment of the settlement occurred around 700 BCE and, pending further research, may be due partially to the gradual silting up of the Segura estuary or even a succession of seismic events.

The data suggest that the population of Cabezo Pequeño del Estany moved to a larger location, on the seafront itself, which is now known as La Fonteta and lies preserved beneath the sand dunes of Guardamar.
Phoenician colonisation of this area is interesting as it is one of the few sites to be contained within a defensive wall such as is visible from the aerial images. In addition to the normal range of materials, such as pottery and Greek lamps, there is also ostrich shell, ivory and Egyptian scarabs.

Potential for steel working
However, the exceptional find is that of early metallurgical activity, not only involving tin and bronze working but potentially, steel.

Both the University of Alicante and the Archaeological Museum of Guardamar are now contemplating conducting future archaeological excavations at Cabezo Pequeño to better understand the activities of these early trading colonists.

Source: University of Alicante

Egypt Pulling Publicity Stunt

If there are three priest-kings buried with the more treasures than Tut, I'll take a bite out of my wool beret and eat it! 

These are desperate times in Egypt.  We all know that tourism, the life-blood of modern Egypt, has fallen off some 95 to 98% during the continuing unrest of the past four years.  Egypt went from Mubarak (a dictator), to a weak coalition government (a form of democracy), to an Islamic majority (another dictatorship), to a military coup.  American tourists, who are considred "rich" by much of the world, are staying away in droves.  Well, who can blame them?  At least BBC is no longer broadcasting images of unemployed Egyptian males burning Americans in effigy and trampling the Stars and Stripes.  Like I would EVER spend an American penny in your country, dudes?  Ha!

I think this is bullshit - but, we'll see...

Archaeologists race to secure ancient burial site of three Egyptian kings that will make the treasure of Tutankhamun's tomb look like a 'display in Woolworths'

• British archaeologist John Romer, 72, believes he knows location of tomb
• It is believed three priest kings - Heridor, Piankh and Menkheperre - were buried there
• Romer claims the site in Luxor, Egypt, contains magnificent treasures
• Rival archaeology teams are now in a race to find and secure the tomb

By Suzannah Hills PUBLISHED: 06:19 EST, 30 March 2014 | UPDATED: 09:08 EST, 30 March 2014

An archaeology race is on to secure the ancient burial site of three Egyptian kings which contains relics that will outshine even that of Tutankhamun's, it has been claimed.

British archaeologist John Romer, 72, believes he has discovered the site where three ancient Egyptian priest kings - Herihor, Piankh and Menkheperre - were buried in Luxor, Egypt, almost 3,000 years ago.

He claims the burial ground will yield such magnificent treasures that those discovered in the nearby tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings will seem like a 'display in Woolworths' in comparison.

Like a plot out of an Indiana Jones movie, experts are now racing to secure the site called Wadi el-Gharbi, located in the cliffs on Luxor's west bank, before the arrival of so-called treasure hunters and tomb-raiders.

It is feared that ancient rock inscriptions surrounding the site, which has remained largely untouched since 1085BC, could be damaged by their quad bikes, rope ladders and other equipment.  Last week, three people were arrested by the army security services at Luxor for entering it.
 

The only person known to have excavated at the site was Howard Carter - the man who first scratched a hole through the sealed doorway of Tutankhamun's burial chamber in 1922. Carter had previously cut trenches across the valley floor at the Wadi el-Gharbi site over the course of two weeks in 1916.  He discovered huge mounds of limestone chippings on the wadi floor, identical to those found in the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. But Carter gave up on his excavations, possibly because he had little idea of what may be buried at the site. [Oh please. He was a fricken treasure hunter and did more damage than we'll ever possibly know.]

Romer has since focused on deciphering inscriptions left behind in the area by the royal workmen who laboured there.

Romer and his colleague, Alex Peden, have found the name of Herihor among 150 rock inscriptions.
Romer believes Carter was mistaken to restrict his search to the valley floor and claims the tomb is instead located higher up in the limestone cliffs which soar to around 1,000ft. He claims: Herihor is most likely to be buried in a coffin of gold, like Tutankhamun [250 years before]. There are likely to be canopic chests, objects of alabaster, gold-plated statues, and thrones, though possibly not chariots,.'

Romer, who has been researching the potential tomb for 40 years, still needs to secure a permit from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities to carry out his search. He now fears he may be beaten to finding the tomb after discovering a rival expedition has already arrived at the area. Romer says he would be happy to forgo the chance of discovering the tomb so long as the excavation is done properly and keeps valuable inscriptions intact. [Dude, tomb robbers have already been there, courtesy of the Egyptian government.]

Origins of Ancient African Cattle

Ah ha!  Okay okay, you guys all know that I'm considered a nut case because I do believe there is more than just myth about Noah's Ark.  As to what kind of god would allow himself, the Supreme Creator of the Entire Universe, to get so pissed off at a bunch of puny humans who thumbed their noses at his teachings that he determined to not only punish them but also kill millions of innocent animals and infants, I leave that to theologians to debate.  Whether one believes in a great flood or not, I do believe there is more and more evidence becoming available all the time pointing to a sort of "explosion" of civilization coming out of the region of Ararat and mountains in Turkey and spreading then into the Fertile Crescent around 9500 BCE.  This is just another piece of the puzzle.

Article at Science Daily

Ancient African cattle first domesticated in Middle East, study reveals

Date:  March 28, 2014
Source:  University of Missouri - Columbia
Summary:  The genetic history of 134 cattle breeds from around the world has been completed by a group of researchers. In the process of completing this history, they found that ancient domesticated African cattle originated in the 'Fertile Crescent,' a region that covered modern day Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Israel.

Geneticist and anthropologists previously suspected that ancient Africans domesticated cattle native to the African continent nearly 10,000 years ago. Now, a team of University of Missouri researchers has completed the genetic history of 134 cattle breeds from around the world. In the process of completing this history, they found that ancient domesticated African cattle originated in the "Fertile Crescent," a region that covered modern day Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Israel.

Lead researcher Jared Decker, an assistant professor of animal science in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, says the genetics of these African cattle breeds are similar to those of cattle first domesticated in the Middle East nearly 10,000 years ago, proving that those cattle were brought to Africa as farmers migrated south. Those cattle then interbred with wild cattle, or aurochs, which were native to the region, and changed their genetic makeup enough to confuse geneticists.

In their study published in PLOS Genetics, Decker and a team of international researchers compared the similarities and differences among the genetics of many different cattle breeds to determine how the breeds are related. Their research found mixing of native cattle in Indonesia with imports from India, European and African cattle in Italy and Spain, and European and Asian cattle in Korea and Japan. The MU researchers also determined that unique American cattle breeds, such as Texas longhorns, are the result of breeding between Spanish cattle, transported from Europe by explorers in the 16th century, and breeds of Zebu, or Brahman cattle from India imported into the U.S. from Brazil in the late 1800s. Decker says these discoveries help advance genetics and uncover important information about human history.

"In many ways, the history of cattle genetics mirrors human history," Decker said. "In the case of African cattle, anthropologists and geneticists used to suspect that domesticated African cattle were native to the continent, when in fact, they were brought by migrating peoples thousands of years ago. By better understanding the history of the animals we domesticate, we can better understand ourselves."

Decker also said that cattle breeding is important for animal farmers looking to maximize their herds' meat and dairy production. He says that understanding the genetic history of cattle breeds is important when looking for solutions to agricultural issues.

"Now that we have this more complete genetic history of cattle worldwide, we can better understand the diversity of the species," Decker said. "By understanding the variations present, we can improve cattle for agricultural purposes, whether that is through breeding more disease-resistant animals or finding ways to increase dairy or beef production."

---

Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Jared E. Decker, Stephanie D. McKay, Megan M. Rolf, JaeWoo Kim, Antonio Molina Alcalá, Tad S. Sonstegard, Olivier Hanotte, Anders Götherström, Christopher M. Seabury, Lisa Praharani, Masroor Ellahi Babar, Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano, Mehmet Ali Yildiz, Michael P. Heaton, Wan-Sheng Liu, Chu-Zhao Lei, James M. Reecy, Muhammad Saif-Ur-Rehman, Robert D. Schnabel, Jeremy F. Taylor. Worldwide Patterns of Ancestry, Divergence, and Admixture in Domesticated Cattle. PLoS Genetics, 2014; 10 (3): e1004254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004254

---

Cite This Page:

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University of Missouri-Columbia. "Ancient African cattle first domesticated in Middle East, study reveals." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 March 2014. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140328121025.htm.

Did you hear the one about Archangel Michael and the Sudanese Lady...

Well!  I could say plenty about this but will suffice to suggest that the tattooing of the name "Michael" on her inner thigh may have been meant to be a warning to maintain chastity, and not for "protection" as the story alleges; and that perhaps this branding was a predecessor to the later more grotestque form of assuring a woman's "virtue" by cutting off her clitoris.  Then again, an entirely different interepretation could be given to this tattoo:

Part of image of female mummy from article.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that this could also represent a vulva and a phallic symbol, incorporating a clever bit of old magic by using the cross (which predates Christianity by thousands of years) as the phallic symbol.  Hmmm...

Startling DIscovery: Tattoo found on inner thigh of 1,300-yr-old Sudanese mummy

By Agencies|Posted 24-Mar-2014

 

London: A tattoo of a man’s name has been discovered by scientists on the inner thigh of a 1,300-year-old mummy.
Egyptologists at the British Museum made the startling discovery while examining the ancient mummified body of a Sudanese woman, thought to have died around 700 AD.

 

The symbol, tattooed on the skin of the inner thigh of her right leg, spells out the ancient Greek characters M-I-X-A-H-A, which translates as Michael. But it’s not for a secret lover however, as the tattoo is thought to be a protective biblical symbol representing the Archangel Michael.

It appears in the New Testament Book of Revelations as a protector and leader of God’s armies against the forces of Satan.

He’s also the patron saint of medieval Sudan. Dr Daniel Antoine said, “You can see her tattoo really clearly using infra red reflectography. The tattoo on her right inner thigh represents a monogram that spells Michael in ancient Greek. She is the first evidence of a tattoo from this period. This is a very rare find.”

Experts still don’t know what length of skirts were fashionable in ancient Sudan, so it’s hard to say whether her ink would have been visible. But thousands of people will see it every day when the mummy goes on public display for the first time in May.

So-Called "Neanderthal" and So-Called "Modern Human" DNA - This Story Ain't Going Away

This just makes me laugh, LOL!  So-called "evolution" is getting more complicated by the second?  Gee, I wonder why?  Maybe because the entire "theory" needs to be junked...

Photo Adapted from: Tetra Images/Alamy (from article)

Article from Nature.com

Human evolution: The Neanderthal in the family

Thirty years after the study of ancient DNA began, it promises to upend our view of the past.

• Ewen Callaway

26 March 2014

 

Before ancient DNA exposed the sexual proclivities of Neanderthals or the ancestry of the first Americans, there was the quagga.

 

An equine oddity with the head of a zebra and the rump of a donkey, the last quagga (Equus quagga quagga) died in 1883. [What a dirty rotten shame that we let that happen then, and we're still letting it happen today.  When a species goes extinct, do we not also lose a piece of our own herstory?]  A century later, researchers published¹ around 200 nucleotides sequenced from a 140-year-old piece of quagga muscle. Those scraps of DNA — the first genetic secrets pulled from a long-dead organism — revealed that the quagga was distinct from the mountain zebra (Equus zebra).

 

More significantly, the research showed that from then on, examining fossils would no longer be the only way to probe extinct life. “If the long-term survival of DNA proves to be a general phenomenon,” geneticists Russell Higuchi and Allan Wilson of the University of California, Berkeley, and their colleagues noted in their quagga paper¹, “several fields including palaeontology, evolutionary biology, archaeology and forensic science may benefit.”

 

At first, progress was fitful. Concerns over the authenticity of ancient-DNA research fuelled schisms in the field and deep scepticism outside it. But this has faded, thanks to laboratory rigour that borders on paranoia and sequencing techniques that help researchers to identify and exclude contaminating modern DNA.

 

These advances have fostered an ancient-genomics boom. In the past year, researchers have unveiled the two oldest genomes on record: those of a horse that had been buried in Canadian permafrost for around 700,000 years², and of a roughly 400,000-year-old human relative from a Spanish cavern³. A Neanderthal sequence every bit as complete and accurate as a contemporary human genome has been released⁴, as has the genome of a Siberian child connecting Native Americans to Europeans⁵.

 

Enabling this rush are technological improvements in isolating, sequencing and interpreting the time-ravaged DNA strands in ancient remains such as bones, teeth and hair. Pioneers are obtaining DNA from ever older and more degraded remains, and gleaning insight about long-dead humans and other creatures. And now ancient DNA is set to move from the clean-rooms of specialists to the labs of archaeologists, population geneticists and others. Thirty years after the quagga led the way, Nature looks to the field's future.

2014 European Senior Chess Championships

Ladies' final standings, Fifty+ and Sixty-Five+.  Shit, I'm getting old.  GM Nona Gaprindashvili in the 65+ category. What?  I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. 

Official website (in English).

Classic Final Standings:

14th European Senior 65+ Ladies Chess Championship 2014

Rk.	SNo			Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	2		WGM	Kozlovskaya Valentina	RUS	2169	7.5	0.0	7	27.00
2	6		GM	Gaprindashvili Nona	GEO	2304	7.0	1.0	6	25.75
3	3		WIM	Tsifanskaya Ludmila A	ISR	2102	7.0	0.0	6	25.50
4	8			Kabanova Irina	RUS	1941	6.0	0.0	5	22.25
5	9		WGM	Khmiadashvili Tamar	GEO	2083	5.0	0.0	4	17.00
6	10		WFM	Dotan Valeria	ISR	1959	4.0	0.0	3	11.50
7	5			Zaitseva Tamara	RUS	2099	3.5	0.0	2	9.25
8	4			Hoose Hannelore	GER	1750	2.5	0.0	2	8.50
9	1			Āboliņa Ārija Solveiga	LAT	1874	1.5	0.0	1	2.75
10	7			Savostina Larisa	RUS	1595	1.0	0.0	1	2.50

14th European Senior 50+ Ladies Chess Championship 2014

Rk.	SNo			Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	1		WIM	Fomina Tatyana	EST	2188	6.5	0.5	5	27.50
2	4		WIM	Kasoshvili Tsiala	GEO	2112	6.5	0.5	4	26.00
3	7		WGM	Strutinskaya Galina N	RUS	2290	6.0	0.0	5	24.50
4	6		WFM	Bogumil Tatiana	RUS	2118	5.5	0.0	5	21.25
5	5		WFM	Kierzek Mira	MKD	2002	4.5	1.0	4	17.25
6	3		WIM	Jicman Ligia-Letiţia	ROU	2154	4.5	0.0	3	17.25
7	10		WIM	Mednikova Svetlana	RUS	2180	3.5	0.5	2	13.25
8	8		IM	Gurieli Nino	GEO	2329	3.5	0.5	2	11.75
9	2			Chireykina Natalia	RUS	1891	2.5	0.0	2	9.25
10	9			Baliūnienė Margarita	DEN	1944	2.0	0.0	2	11.00

xxx

2014 Chinese Chess Championships

March 11 - 22, 2014.  Information courtesy of The Week in Chess.  Final standings (women first):

ch-CHN w 2014 Xinghua CHN Tue 11th Mar 2014 - Sat 22nd Mar 2014 Leading Final Round 11 Standings:
Rk	SNo	Name	FED	Rtg	Pts	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	1	Ju Wenjun	CHN	2520	8.5	0.0	41.25	7
2	3	Shen Yang	CHN	2435	8.0	0.5	39.00	5
3	10	Lei Tingjie	CHN	2374	8.0	0.5	36.25	7
4	11	Ding Yixin	CHN	2429	7.5	0.0	38.00	4
5	8	Tan Zhongyi	CHN	2499	6.5	0.0	29.75	4
6	12	Guo Qi	CHN	2462	6.0	0.0	27.75	4
7	2	Zhang Xiaowen	CHN	2397	5.5	0.0	24.25	4
8	7	Wang Jue	CHN	2384	4.5	0.0	19.50	2
9	9	Wang Doudou	CHN	2217	3.5	0.0	15.25	2
10	5	Xiao Yiyi	CHN	2177	3.0	0.0	13.00	1
11	4	Zhai Mo	CHN	2266	2.5	0.5	13.50	0
12	6	Gu Tianlu	CHN	2164	2.5	0.5	9.50	0
12 players

ch-CHN 2014 Xinghua CHN Tue 11th Mar 2014 - Sat 22nd Mar 2014 Leading Final Round 11 Standings:
Rk	SNo	Name	FED	Rtg	Pts	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	3	Yu Yangyi	CHN	2664	7.0	0.5	37.00	3
2	10	Ding Liren	CHN	2717	7.0	0.5	36.75	4
3	5	Ma Qun	CHN	2606	6.5	0.5	34.50	2
4	1	Wei Yi	CHN	2625	6.5	0.5	33.00	3
5	9	Zhou Jianchao	CHN	2565	6.0	0.5	32.00	3
6	8	Zhao Jun	CHN	2608	6.0	0.5	31.50	3
7	7	Hou Yifan	CHN	2629	5.0	0.0	27.75	2
8	2	Lin Chen	CHN	2475	4.5	2.0	22.25	2
9	12	Xiu Deshun	CHN	2571	4.5	1.5	25.00	2
10	4	Zeng Chongsheng	CHN	2520	4.5	1.5	22.50	3
11	6	Wen Yang	CHN	2591	4.5	1.0	24.25	2
12	11	Liu Qingnan	CHN	2501	4.0	0.0	23.00	2
12 players

GM Hou Yifan finished about the middle of the pack.  She was third-ranked going in, so I would consider this not a very good performance.